New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-11


of horrors incident TO you"
She was tall. and no lOn.cr young; her mar,
of n rich light brown, had broad strcak Oh
white in il, which appeared to have been marKeo
out by powder it was distinct, but which GU ser
inspection showed to be the silver o. Natures
own adjoining Yet traces Of youthful beauty sii!'
fingered upon her and made gracious atmosphere
about her. as the perfume of a rose fingers thong
its petals are falling, and her eye was bright ana
her cheek vellxet TO the touch OF her nephew
lips "Your wife is gone TO bring the baby" she
added. leading him INTO the drawing room and
pushing an casy-chair TO the blazing hearth 1or
him: and then the young wife appeared radiant
reproachful, and wondering at the long decay,
and lifted ND small bundle which disclosed the
wax pink face of q sleeping infant to ne K'Sseu
This she quickly resigned to the willing arms oil
Aunt Dora, who silently bore it of to It's proper
place
And nv parcelpn asked Aunt Dora on her re-
turn to the reunited couple But this is not
what gave you,' she added. receiving 1t with
that rare severity which always made the OBJECTS
of it inwardly trcmble; ait was tied with strong
white whipcord. And it was tdly packed"
"If you will imperl your relations lives by
making them carry pieces of plate in their hands
Amt Doran pleaded Albert, 1t is not your fault
that the baby is not an orphan and poor Miillc
widow"
ALBERT said Aunt Dora with n stern gentle
ness terrible to Sec what have you done with
my parcelp Confess at once!"
"1he casl1et is safe, it has not q scratch; and
know that you have the key, so 1t could not be
opened" he replied, relating the adventures oil
the evening.
"And you left it alone with strange man az
night, in hut upon wheels upon the lonely
down and unfastened. Albert, shall remember
this when making my Will" Saving these words
in her most sepuchra voice, which was pure
round treble, and bluthing slightly at her own
81 CHI
wish SEEM to be carried by hand In her over
anxiety about il, Aunt Dora led the way TO the
dining-room and began TO supply her prodigai
with food and family news.
She had been parted from the Silver Casket TOT
three months and welcomed IL rs If IL had been O
returning child She was glad when bedtime
came that she might be alone with IL and, having
Invested il of its wraps and busted IL tenderly
with soft rag which brought up its polish, she
placed il on the table il usually occupied, ana
sitting by il, laid her arms around 1t and her
head upon il. The Silver Casl<ct was Doras
Pot of Basil.
II always received this nightly carcss, and
when she went from home IL was locked away
and she missed il. rs people miss the goodnight
kisses of their children. IL was the frst tmc
she had trusted IL to travel in another person
CHARGE had even contemplated making journey
on purpose to fetch it, but could not furnish
decent pretext 10 her conscience.
Her unfastened hair fell over her arms and
over the silver box and the thought come TO her
that IL she lived out her natural life the Veil
OF hair would grow thin and gray, and she would
still go on casping the precious casket, ana only
the angels would see the whitencd hair ana the
shrunken arms; unless, indeed, one morning. won
dering at the silence, should gently force
the door and, entering find a still form sitting
there, sleeping the dreamless sleep.
But they would never open the casket no one
knew tho secret OF the springan she had directed
that the casket should be buried with her.
Whether the things touch under strong
feeling receive some subtle essence from ouI
deeper inward being cannot tell; certain III Is
that power seems 20 emanate from things nan
died by those we love hate, and certain III
that the writer OF the letter, and the wearer ol
the gold banded cap, and all the passion anu
agony they brought into her youth, came Deior'
Dora with vivid intensity more proper 70 prcscn'
things than TO past, she sat there in the lonely
night. with her treasure clasped 10 her heart.
Especially she recalled the terrible night whe1
tie tress OF brown hair within tie caskct received
its CHASTITY stain, and all the JOY and youth wen'
out Of her life.
IL was when she lived with her uncle and
guardian the Colonel Dyson OF the Artillery, u
whom the casllct had been presented long ago or
some forgotten occasion. Her aunt then hcinp
absent on a visit Of some length. she was subJectu
TO unusually strict discipline, and unusually dhrH
suspicious on the part Of her uncle, VINO, uKihe
il for granted that every woman IL nlrt and
considering that Dora was pretty, attractive ano
moderately lowered, SUSPECTED every bachelor who
cnioycd five minutes chat with his clever niece OF
| dcsigns upon her hand. and Dora OF encouraging
him. And, as he lived close 20 barracks, and
Dora was constantly in society and continuity
meeting military men, his suspicious had wac
field 10 wander upon; so that Dora, between hei
popularity with the officers he commanded, and
tic Colonels stern sense OF duty in keeping heI
from marrying, was often at her wits enl u
know how to act-thc more so as she was by No
means disposed 10 f0rego the homage rendered
ler In those days life q brilliant comedy
full OF enchanting surprises and novel turns
always leading TO a happy conclusion.
Foremost among her admirers was Lieutenant
Archie Daily, gay and handsome young Irish
man, who openly proclaimed himself IN love witt
her, and laid public siege 20 her affections in
manner that provoked much mrth among her CIR
| friends. No one, particularly Dora, coud nell
liking Archie DAILY; he was so good-tempered and
light-hearted, so full of witty yet lelt-handed
sayings, and OF that playful chivalry so dear u
women and SO truly Irish lie was as ailectonat'
as a child and with all his love OF pleasure wa
truly kind hearted. and he cndearcd himself 10 thu
men in the ranks. No wonder that Colonel Dyson
thought this bright lad with his far curls ant
baby mustache which was the pride OF his hear
and the subject OF many good tempered JEST Z
dangerous sutton, and on learning the impccuniou
| Days intentions, promptly put veto on them
sent his niece from him, and did not recall hel
until DAILY went away n long leave
But I'll have her yet" said Archie, when h'
came back, if wait twenty years"
Then Colonel Dyson was angry and forbade hin
to enter his house while Dora was in it, and thi
was just at the beginning of Mrs. Dyson's visit
Archie's special friend and mentor was Cap
tain Bruce, his senior both in years and rank;
self-contained studious man, not, like Archie, {
universal favorte, but rather unpopular with his
brother officers, though liked and respected by hi
men, He too recxoncd by public opinion a:
one OF Miss Wlloughby's suitOrs.
Colonel Dyson not in the least afraid o.
"steady old Bruce" and DAILY regarded the lat
ter's supposed attachment as n joke, and some
times rallied him upon his incapacity TO charm
the fair, which rallying Bruce always received
with an imperturbable Indifference which provoked